EXPLORING ABRUZZO
"A Feast for the Senses"
Efortlessly discover and experience the best of Abruzzo, the most beautiful unspoiled region of Central Italy. We will show you Abruzzo’s hidden treasures; from gastronomy, art and culture, to national parks, flora and fauna; you will experience a true “feast for the senses”.
All our tours or guided days are bespoke and tailored to your specific requirements. If you don’t have your own car, no problem. If you do have your own car then we can either hop in yours or we can drive convoy.
Get in touch so we can create your very own itinerary for you.
GUIDED PRIVATE DAY TOURS
Our guided day tours are for those of you who just want someone to help you explore for one full day or a few days during your stay in Abruzzo. Whether it's climbing the Corno Grande, organising a cookery course, having a night time snow-shoeing experience in the winter or visiting wineries, get in touch, we'd love to hear from you so we can create the most memorable experience of Abruzzo for you.
Price on enquiry. Contact us.
TAILOR MADE ABRUZZO TOURS
If you are a group of friends/family talk to us – we can organise a bespoke tour of Abruzzo just for you! Group size maximum 6.
Price on enquiry. Contact us.
THE MAGIC LIGHT OF ABRUZZO - PHOTOGRAPHY
This is not a photography course, although there will be some element of tips and teaching if required: all levels of photographers are welcome. Andrew, a former professional photographer (with a career in fashion, advertising, nature and adventure photography including National Geographic) will take you to some of the most unexplored stunning locations where you will be able to enjoy and experiment taking shots of landscapes, nature, history and people like never before.
Get in touch to arrange either a day or two or a longer tour depending on your requirements. Price on enquiry.
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Italian Mountain Guide
Lorenzo is a full time guide, he spends his whole life taking people into the mountains of the national parks of Abruzzo, and he loves every minute of his job! No one knows more about the flora and fauna, history and secret hidden places of Abruzzo than him.
English Abruzzo Guide
Andrew has spent more than ten years exploring Abruzzo and is very knowledgeable & passionate about everything that this unique region of Italy has to offer. He has made Abruzzo his home having positioned himself and his family in the middle of the National Parks.
English, German, French (and her Italian is improving) speaking Director
Katja manages the business, looks after our enquiries, bookings, social media. She loves getting out and about, whether it be on foot, by car, horseback, snow shoes or skis in order to explore as much as possible of this fantastic region.
Abruzzo is a feast for the senses; it is a stunning, wild and mountainous area in central Italy, with the Apennine mountain range running through it from north to south, and over to the east more than 100km of Adriatic coastline offering stunning beaches. Known as the 'greenest region' of Italy it is also one of the least populated regions in the country and offers an abundance of beauty.
This region is an area of outstanding natural beauty, a place to be close to nature, and a place to explore without any crowds. Abruzzo’s varied landscape hosts a myriad of medieval hilltop villages, towns that date back to Roman times and ancient castles. In the spring Abruzzo's high meadows are covered with wild flowers, and the air is filled with the scent of curry plants and wild thyme. In the Autumn the trees turn red and golden, and the air is full of the smell of oak smoke coming from the fireplaces. If you are amongst the lucky ones you will hear wolves howling at night time.
Abruzzo is home to no less than three National Parks as well as a Regional Park, added together they make the largest area of protected wilderness anywhere in Europe. The region is home to a highly diversified ecosystem, which hosts over 75% of animal species currently living in Europe! Amongst these are the Apennine wolf, the Marsican bear, red dear, roe dear, golden eagle and the Abruzzo chamois.
The beech tree, gentians, wild orchids, orange lilies and peonies just to name a few are amongst the stunning flora of the Abruzzo region. On the Campo Imperatore you will find beautiful displays of rare and endangered plant species.
The Abruzzese people have kept their artisan skills and traditions alive, they are known as being strong and gentle, "forte e gentile". They are amongst the most friendly and hospitable people you will ever meet and are generous to a fault.
In the rural towns and villages life has changed little. Shops close in the middle of the day when the restaurants open, people grow their own food and make their own wine and olive oil, they go to church and the shepherds still tend their flocks in the traditional way.
The Guardian newspaper weren't wrong when they wrote an article about Abruzzo saying, "it had the best food in all of Italy". Abruzzo is famous for its saffron from L'Aquila, its lentils from Santo Stefano, sugared almonds known as 'confetti' from Sulmona, pecorino cheese, 'De Cecco' pasta and of course its wines which include the now world-famous Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wine. The dishes in Abruzzo are hearty and rustic, you can expect polenta, wild boar, pasta alla chitarra, arrosticini, pallote cacio e uova, delicious seafood if you're near the coast, and the most delicious greens from spinach, cavolo nero to artichokes and chicory. Oh, and don't forget all the delicious pastries and gelato!
From the Apennines to the Adriatic Coast this region has so much to offer. Come and visit Abruzzo and explore with us.
MAJELLA NATIONAL PARK
The Majella National Park has more holy places per square kilometre than anywhere in the world, except Tibet. It is one of the 13 Parks established across Europe in 1998 by the Worldwide Fund for Nature (formerly the WWF). Their aim is to protect these important areas of outstanding natural beauty that are important refuges for some of Europe’s rarest species.
The Majella is Europe’s largest protected area, the 74,095 hectares of unique mountainous terrain is home to an amazing rich array of wildlife, nearly half of all mammal species found in Italy are present in the Majella. The Apennine wolf, wild boar, red deer, roe deer, wild cats, otters, chamois and brown bear are all found in the Majella.
The park hosts one third of the entire Italian flora, there are over 2,000 species of plants in the Majella. That’s 36% of Italy’s flora, 22% of Europe’s – and a whopping 11% is found nowhere else on earth.
GRAN SASSO NATIONAL PARK
The Gran Sasso contains the highest mountain in central Italy at 2,912 metres and the plateau of Campo Imperatore, (little Tibet) a large and beautiful high-altitude grassland.
More than 2,000 species of plants live in the different areas of the park, from prairies and pastures to woods. The undergrowth is rich in colours and the aromas of raspberries and wild orchids.
When it comes to wildlife, the Gran Sasso is considered the kingdom of the Abruzzo chamois. But also to be found are deer, roe deer and the Apennine wolf – as well as many rare birds of prey such as golden eagles, peregrine falcons and eagle owls – that call the area home.
THE ABRUZZO, LAZIO AND MOLISE NATIONAL PARK
Established in 1922 to protect nature and to save wild animals from extinction, the Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo is Abruzzo’s oldest park. Its 50,000 hectares extend into the Lazio and Molise regions, hence its full name.
This is the ideal place to spot certain species such as the Marsican brown bear (the parks’ symbol), golden eagle, wolf, wild boar, red and roe deer, otter and the Abruzzo chamois that have made their home amongst the remote valleys and inaccessible mountains. There are many rare and endemic species of flora which include the Black Vanilla orchid and the Venus Lady’s Slipper orchid.
The park’s landscape is mountainous, although the peaks are not very high. The highest, the Petroso mountain reaches 2,249 metres.
SIRENTE VELINO REGIONAL PARK
The Sirente Velino is the third highest mountain massif in the Apennines after the Gran Sasso and Majella and hosts the Sirente Velino Regional Park in the province of L’Aquila, Abruzzo. The massifs are very different in terms of vegetation; the Sirente located in the central Eastern part of the park has extensive and diverse flora whilst the Velino in the western part of the park is void of showy vegetation and has semi-desert areas. Here you will also find the 3rd largest peak of the Apeninnes, Monte Velino at 2487m. This area is a truly enchanting and wild setting, an ideal habitat for the diverse flora and fauna found in Central Italy.
"Wow, what a fantastic tour we
had with Andrew and Katja.
A day that was full on from the get go, exploring some of the best that Abruzzo has to offer.
Andrew and Katja have a vast knowledge of the history of the region and share this in a fun and informative manner.
If you get the opportunity to do a tour with this fantastic couple, grab it with both hands and be prepared to have a fantastic experience.” Kay D, New Zealand
"I was in a pattern of work hard, burn out, go on luxury holiday and repeat. I decided it was time to shake things up and get out of my comfort zone! Along came Sacred Walks….and sacred it was…to actually disconnect from the outside world and walk in the most beautiful historic landscape with like minded people is a wonderful thing. Andrew and Lorenzo’s passion for this trip is infectious and they have gone to great lengths to ensure that you get a unique and authentic experience. I remember standing in a cave where a hermit had lived for 40 years before becoming pope!" Yvette, Brighton, United Kingdom
This was a wonderful walking holiday with delicious food to sustain us! I loved the ancient places that we visited, hermitages, chapels, oratories, ancient villages, all located in such beautiful landscapes.
The highlight of the trip for me was the visit to see the frescoes in the oratory at Bonimaco - they are stunning!
The three national parks in which we stayed and walked were very different from each other, each with their own distinctive character. The fact that it rained the night we camped didn't impact on the holiday at all, if anything it bonded us as a groups and we felt like great survivors after the storm.
The food and wine was predominantly locally grown and was completely delicious.
In some ways this holiday was like stepping back in time. The Abruzzo region is completely unspoilt and for me this makes it very attractive.
The guides were excellent and it felt a great privilege to have them share their love of the Abruzzo with us. If I could only visit one place in the world for the rest of my life, it wolud be this.
Patricia W, United Kingdom
"A lot of careful planning had gone into our holiday yet the guides were flexible and ready to adapt the programme to meet our wishes. A perfect blend of not-too-challenging hill walking, wonderful nature, secret places, excellent meals and beautiful art and architecture."
lucullus_11, Binissalem, Spain
"Having spent a day touring some of the most fantastic places of Abruzzo, with the excellent guides Andrew and Katja, you just want more! Their knowledege and experience of Abruzzos secret gems, together with their great entertaining personalities, gives you so much extra out of the day. We had a big smile on our faces for days :) I highly recommend taking their Abrozzo tour!” Niklas Paulson, Stockholm, Sweden
"At my request, Andrew arranged for a customized day adventure focusing on hiking the lovely hills of Abruzzo combined with a bit of sightseeing. It went extremely well. I was most impressed with our host's knowledge of the area; kind personality; and close attention the the safety and needs of the five travelers in our group. 'nuff said...." Stephen U, Teramo, Italia
"Italy is one of my favourite places to visit and I have enjoyed many holidays there. It was just by chance that I discovered Sacred Walks, but I'm so glad I did. I had an absolutely wonderful holiday!
The guides have a passion for and an extensive knowledge of Abruzzo which means that you get to see some places that you would be unlikely to discover on your own.
The scenery is magnificent, you feel you can breath more easily in the vast open spaces and the silence is truly 'golden'.
The walks took in historic villages, hermitages and churches which had amazing frescoes.
Everywhere we stayed the welcome was very warm and the food (which, wherever possible, was local to the area) was always delicious - good job it was a walking holiday!
If you go independently to Abruzzo you can't fail to be impressed, but if you want to experience all the area has to offer and get all you can from your trip then i would strongly recommend that you go with Sacred Walks."
Catherine Walker, London, United Kingdom
"This holiday exceeded expectations and has left me with some wonderful memories. I had no prior experience of the Abruzzo, and with the help of our two experienced and knowledgeable guides we were shown landscapes and scenery in three National Parks which at times simply took one's breath away. A very varied week, in terms of countryside, accommodation, and exertion. Even camping on a wet evening was rescued by a 6 course dinner cooked over a log fire, washed down with red wine and home made limoncello. The people we met were unfailingly generous and hospitable, and the food was delicious, simple and plentiful. The phrase heard most often was 'Wow! That's amazing' Georgina T, United Kingdom
"The day was full of amazing sites and laughter. Andrew and Katja were lovely hosts, they were a perfect mix between relating information and just having fun. The picnic lunch in Campo Imperatoe was charming, the wonderful tower in Santo Stefano which is one of the most beautiful villages I have visited in Italy. And riding the ebikes up to the Castello was magical and easy with the pedal assist. I would encourage taking a tour with this wonderful team, you won't regret it.” Edna S, Washington DC, USA
"This was my first walking holiday and I loved it.
With a group of nine others and two guides we visited fascinating areas of the Abruzzo Mountains. We walked every day and stayed in three unusual places - each one quirky but lovely - a Palazzo B&B in Scanno, an agriturismo farmstead & a restored medieval village previously decimated by earthquake.The food was very Italian and always excellent.
One night we camped on a mountain in the cloud and that was fun as well."
Angela G, United Kingdom
"I travelled to Rome with 3 girlfriends and was met by our two guides Lorenzo and Andrew and 4 other travellers making our party 10. We then travelled the nearly 3 hours to the Abruzzo region in 2 mini buses. It turned out to be one of the best holidays I have ever had. Lorenzo lives in this region with his family and wanted to show us the very best. It was a walking holiday of moderate difficulty visiting national parks, the snow capped mountains and medieval town and villages. We walked with hafflinger horses for two days and camped for one night. We visited ancient hermitages and beautiful churches and ate like kings in Agro tourism homestays as well as smart bed and breakfast old houses. Everywhere we we welcomed and we never had to choose from a menu! Andrew and Lorenzo had planned everything and we jelled incredibly well with the other guests. I would thoroughly recommend this small travel company called Sacred Walks although they may well change the name to something like Walks in wild Italy." Marguerite Craig, United Kingdom
"Through a number of emails and Zoom calls, we nailed down an itinerary that was the "best of" Abruzzo. Andrew was our adventurous, fun-loving, storytelling guide for four days in which we hiked around the Grand Maiella, ate too much cheese, drove through the roads of the regions like professional race car drivers (haha), hiked the Campo Imperatore to get a look at the sea, tread through old ruins and castles, and were fortunate to gain entrance into some amazing towers and other structures that only an "insider" like Andrew would know about or could accomplish. They have friends everywhere, and the accommodations were always unique and comfortable, with generous hosts wherever we went. I am certain we will remain friends, because that is the Abruzzese way, but also because Andrew and Katya want their guests to love Abruzzo in the same way they fell in love with the region!” Annette W, Cincinnati, USA Annette W, Cincinnati, USA
"I had a wonderful holiday exploring the hills and villages of Abruzzo with Sacred Walks. Despite the title, this was not a 'religious' holiday but we did have some spiritual moments in ancient hermitages and beautiful churches. Our Italian guide, Lorenzo, lives in Abruzzo and is en experienced guide for this area - we learnt a lot both about the history and flora and fauna of the area. He and Andrew made every effort to make sure we got the very best out of the holiday, and went to great pains to make it a very positive experience - and good fun. The scenery is stunning, and the walks took us up to the snowline, across flower meadows, and on old trails through forests. there is quite a lot of uphill, so some fitness is needed for that! We walked two days leading four beautiful Haflinger ponies carrying our stuff for a night's camping 4,500 feet above sea level! We got rather wet, but had fun with campfire dining and limoncello under a canvas ceiling. The holiday ended in Rocca Calascio - the highest mediaeval castle in Europe - with fantastic views on all side. We enjoyed delicious home-cooked italian food throughout, and didn't once have to consult a menu.We stayed in a palazzo, a wonderful agriturismo, and a converted village house and a tent! We were in a small group of 8.Thoroughly recommended to anyone who enjoys Italy and would like a walking holiday with a difference." Berkhamsted, United Kingdom
Exploring Abruzzo Gallery
To feast your eyes on regular beautiful snaps of Abruzzo why not join us on Instagram. We are always out and about and love taking pics.
